Legendary Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar has penned a tribute on Twitter for James Anderson after the pacer claimed his 700th Test wicket on Saturday morning in Dharamsala.
With the wicket of Kuldeep Yadav, James Anderson became the first pacer to take 700 Test scalps and only the third bowler in history – after Muttiah Muralitharan and Shane Warne – to reach this landmark.
Most wickets in Test cricket:
800 – Muttiah Muralitharan
708 – Shane Warne
700* – James Anderson
619 – Anil Kumble
604 – Stuart Broad
Even though England are well behind in the game and on the verge of an innings defeat, the moment of the morning of day 3 of the Dharamsala Test belonged to Anderson as his outswinger slanted across and took the edge of Kuldeep Yadav’s poke and wicket-keeper Ben Foakes collected it calmly. No sooner had Foakes completed the catch than Joe Root, at slip, and other fielders began running toward Anderson to celebrate this historic milestone of the 41-year-old who had begun his Test career in 2003.
It sounded like fiction until James Anderson actually made it happen: Sachin Tendulkar
Tributes started pouring in instantly and one special tribute came from the greatest batter of all – Sachin Tendulkar.
Tendulkar recalled his first memory of watching James Anderson bowl in 2002. The Master expressed astonishment at Anderson’s longevity and success.
On James Anderson completed 700 Test wickets, Sachin Tendulkar tweeted: “The first time I saw Anderson play was in Australia in 2002, and his control over the ball looked special.
“Nasser Hussain spoke very highly of him back then and today, I am sure, he would say, “Maine bola tha” — that he had called it so early. 😀
“700 test wickets is a stellar achievement. A fast bowler playing for 22 years and performing so consistently to be able to take 700 wickets would have sounded like fiction until Anderson actually made it happen. Simply magnificent!”
Meanwhile, India were bowled out for 477 with off-spinner Shoaib Bashir taking a five-wicket haul. Two batters scored centuries and three scored half-centuries. India have a lead of 259 runs.
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